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Lakeland Woman Accused of Wanting Children to Kill Grandparents

Published: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 12:16 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 2:28 a.m.

LAKELAND | Leticia Silva had a long-distance relationship with her daughters in North Carolina, one nurtured by phone calls and mailed presents.

But through that occasional contact, Silva tried to coax her girls, ages 7 and 10, into murdering their paternal grandparents, authorities said. Silva is accused of mailing them a Christmas present with a pocket knife hidden inside and, in a phone call, asking them to get a steak knife from the kitchen to use in the attack.

The grandparents, who have had custody of the children for seven years, found the steak knife under a pillow on one of the girls' beds and contacted the Pitt County, N.C., Sheriff's Office last month, said Christy Wallace, sheriff's spokeswoman.

"They completely came clean with the grandparents immediately," Wallace said.

Silva, 31, lived with her boyfriend's mother, Mary Snell, in South Lakeland. Lakeland Police Department officers tried to arrest Silva last month, Snell said, but she wasn't there when they arrived. Silva drove to North Carolina last weekend and turned herself in to deputies Monday.

Silva was booked into the Pitt County Jail in Greenville, N.C., and charged with four counts of solicitation to commit first-degree murder. She attempted to have her bail reduced Tuesday, Wallace said, but it remains at $5 million.

Polk County Jail records show Silva, whose name is listed as Silva-Carpintero, was arrested in Lakeland in November on a charge of driving with a suspended license.

The Florida Department of Corrections website shows Silva served eight months in prison in 2010 after being convicted in Desoto County on drug charges. Prison records show she was living in Arcadia when she was released from prison.

Snell said the grandparents gained custody of the children while Silva was serving her prison sentence.

After her release from prison, Silva attempted to get her life in order, Snell said. She worked late at IHOP, saved for an apartment and tried to avoid arrest — all with hopes regaining custody of her daughters.

Snell, with whom Silva lived for several months, doubts the accusations against Silva are true. The young mother seemed to want to do anything to keep her relationship with the girls, and never gave up hope of one day regaining their custody.

Snell thinks the grand- parents made up the accusations.

"Why would she go to the lengths to do something stupid like that?" Snell said. "She wasn't that type of person."

Silva learned North Carolina deputies had an arrest warrant for her when five LPD vehicles arrived at the home last month and officers searched for her, Snell said.

The grandparents told Silva the nature of the accusations in a phone call, Snell said. Silva drove to North Carolina this past weekend, Snell said, because she wants to challenge the charges.

"I have to do it," Snell remembers Silva saying, "because it's not true."

[ Matthew Pleasant can be reached at matthew.pleasant@theledger.com or 863-802-7590. ]

<p>LAKELAND | Leticia Silva had a long-distance relationship with her daughters in North Carolina, one nurtured by phone calls and mailed presents.</p><p>But through that occasional contact, Silva tried to coax her girls, ages 7 and 10, into murdering their paternal grandparents, authorities said. Silva is accused of mailing them a Christmas present with a pocket knife hidden inside and, in a phone call, asking them to get a steak knife from the kitchen to use in the attack.</p><p>The grandparents, who have had custody of the children for seven years, found the steak knife under a pillow on one of the girls' beds and contacted the Pitt County, N.C., Sheriff's Office last month, said Christy Wallace, sheriff's spokeswoman.</p><p>"They completely came clean with the grandparents immediately," Wallace said.</p><p>Silva, 31, lived with her boyfriend's mother, Mary Snell, in South Lakeland. Lakeland Police Department officers tried to arrest Silva last month, Snell said, but she wasn't there when they arrived. Silva drove to North Carolina last weekend and turned herself in to deputies Monday.</p><p>Silva was booked into the Pitt County Jail in Greenville, N.C., and charged with four counts of solicitation to commit first-degree murder. She attempted to have her bail reduced Tuesday, Wallace said, but it remains at $5 million. </p><p>Polk County Jail records show Silva, whose name is listed as Silva-Carpintero, was arrested in Lakeland in November on a charge of driving with a suspended license. </p><p>The Florida Department of Corrections website shows Silva served eight months in prison in 2010 after being convicted in Desoto County on drug charges. Prison records show she was living in Arcadia when she was released from prison.</p><p>Snell said the grandparents gained custody of the children while Silva was serving her prison sentence. </p><p>After her release from prison, Silva attempted to get her life in order, Snell said. She worked late at IHOP, saved for an apartment and tried to avoid arrest — all with hopes regaining custody of her daughters.</p><p>Snell, with whom Silva lived for several months, doubts the accusations against Silva are true. The young mother seemed to want to do anything to keep her relationship with the girls, and never gave up hope of one day regaining their custody.</p><p>Snell thinks the grand- parents made up the accusations.</p><p>"Why would she go to the lengths to do something stupid like that?" Snell said. "She wasn't that type of person."</p><p>Silva learned North Carolina deputies had an arrest warrant for her when five LPD vehicles arrived at the home last month and officers searched for her, Snell said.</p><p>The grandparents told Silva the nature of the accusations in a phone call, Snell said. Silva drove to North Carolina this past weekend, Snell said, because she wants to challenge the charges.</p><p>"I have to do it," Snell remembers Silva saying, "because it's not true."</p><p>[ Matthew Pleasant can be reached at matthew.pleasant@theledger.com or 863-802-7590. ]</p>